On July 16, approximately 500 guests enjoyed rare access to the museum’s elevated Fifth Avenue Garden, a majestic private outdoor space bracketed by the Frick’s three grand magnolia trees. It was the first time in several years that the full expanse of the lawn was fully traversable (following the creation of the Portico Gallery that overlooks the lawn).

At the start of the evening, attendees headed inside the cool mansion, finding refreshments in the central Garden Court. They also strolled through the permanent collection galleries where they could view masterpieces by Rembrandt, Holbein, Houdon, Goya, Gainsborough, Velázquez, Renoir, and other artists. Many guests found the Frick’s three paintings by Vermeer, commenting on the arrival of a fourth this fall, his Girl with a Pearl Earringon loan from the Maurishuis in The Hague. In the day-lit Portico Gallery, guests found the museum’s special exhibition Precision & Splendor: Clocks and Watches at The Frick Collection. From this vantage point, they could also view increasing numbers of attendees shifting out to the Fifth Avenue garden. As the evening progressed and the sun went down, most guests headed outside to take advantage of this special access.

Cocktails and wine were served (cocktail: The Garden Gimlet with American Harvest Organic Spirit; also featured was Stags Leap Chardonnay). Refreshments were accompanied by a tempting variety of summer-themed hors d’oeuvres. Noted jazz quartet The Flail provided music for the benefit.